The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1887-02-13

froiie at IA Lon. House On the Prairie.
Lively scen.-"Gombo" aud ChiVaIry,
The OLA reddIer.
Across the rolling Attakapus prairie
small caValrade trOttcd, apparently ia
hurry 20 reach its destination. The natural
gait ~ the lirtle Creole ponies was easy
'lnpc' or caut"r; therefore IL was that tho
irregular. rough trot of the animals cyl
deneed "A restraining pull AT the heavy bits.
There were fNe ia the party, all excellent
horsemeu aud all dressed IA the coarse but
durable homcspun cottuuHdc OF that section
of Louisiana. They seemed Ia la enjoying
themselves. for their hearty laughter and
loud rpuIice. in French, all talking at ono
time h"spol" Freedom from care and also
"A source of amusement they possessed ia
common.
Ia the distance. just pceping above one OF
the swells IA the rrairl" the slender Spire of
the little church OF 81 Pierre broke the line
Of the horizon, and IA its direction the
party were riding. Out upon th,'sr broad
stretches Of almost trcrl,'s~ country distances
are very deceptive, nnd IL was about two
hours after the ste"plo WAS first seen that
the riders refined up Ia the little town The
settlement did not comprise more than
twenty-t i've or thirty houses. the most con
spicuuus Of which were the church referred
IL ami two stores.
The visitors alght",l AT one of the stores.
and were cordially greeted 10y the crowd
there assembled. They seemed 90 know
every body and everybody was ga terms Of
intimacy with them, for they we're AL
dressed hy their Christian names and slapped
affactionat"ly on ia" back
The lately arrived hor,emen were taken
in charge hy friends, and each WINS escorted
off to dinner in some OF the comfortable
dwellings, from the chimneNs OF which the
curling smoke gave sign OF the good cheer
within.
General hospitality wore away the after
noon, and ns the evening came slowly over
the prairie from the far east, whore IL was
already dark, a number of riding parties
passed down the road, bound for some pn""
beyond. Soon there were twenty five or
thirty on their way and with them the visit
ors. Dressed ia all the hriliancy 81 highly
rolorcd rahrnfs, dark eyed drmuisclles gal
loped along ~ n grown to their side saddles,
and their merry laughter made the somber
quiet OF the prairie musical they rode.
An hours ride brought the party 10 their
destination. The house stood alone on ia.
prairie, sheltered by two or three live oaks.
-Four rooms. with a hruad gallery in front,
n hallway through the middle aud large
dining room. taking up ia" ground plan Of
the isolated dwelling \ bright bonfire WAS
burning ia front and the Windows glstrn"d
ftllltifiN III tlitlf7. Wild Al' btillAl ~
mnlinntiu inside
A large number 81 men and women, al
tired ia quite gay TOILETS. welcomed the
new ~ arrived, and for tim" nothing could
be heard bat the warm ~aiutatIuus ot friends
The large dining room la the rear Was the
main object Of interest, Aud after ribbons
hal been arranged, back hair al Iustei ana
skirts smouthsd down nil the ladies hurried
to it, precincts The hoor was cleared Of all
fttt,sifttt, aud arpttpI tIa wall. l,ug
of boards had been put up, that as many ~
possible might be accommodated with seats,
Beside thr windows aud doors smoking can
dies, inserted in augcr holes bored ia small
pieces Of wood. gave a bright light that
afforded one AN opportunity of n more care
full inspection Of the guests
All ages were represented, but the young
were in the majority. Married DANES with
infants i'm arms moved about as fun Of the
enjoyment of the hour the bellies decked
out in ribbons and perfumed with cinnamon
essence. At about s.3O O'Clock the shrlll
squeak ~ violin sounded from one corner
of the ballroom and was followed by the
deep diapason Of an accordion.
The floor was cleared aud the young gal
lants selected their partners. The full facet
old gentleman with silver spectao leo wins
pered 70 his neighbor with the accordion,
"Un Deux, Trois!' and off they started
sometimes the accordion ahead, and then
the violin in the inspiriting movement Of ma
old fashioned mazourka. The benches
around the room were now crowded with
the feminine portion Of the guests, the male
admirers being compelled TO stand ia the
doorways. from whence galaxy Of eyes
drunk ia the animated scene.
After each dance there was promenade,
which afforded anxious mothers an oppor
tunity Of seeking their infants where they
were all nestled together on one bed ia "a
rear chamber, M there 20 quiet lusty cries
induced by hunger by hurried aduinistra-
ton of natures best infantile food. Dance
followed dance. Then the quadrilc was
announced, and three sets took the floor.
The old violinist was now in his element.
Beating time with the toe Of "A very heavy
boot. he made il impossible for the dancers
To forget the measure, and ia musical ht
tie voice he instructed the more modest in
the figures with "Avnnt deuxf Bnaneez'
Chassez, Croisez' Chninc dies DANES
In the midst of the "lhdy's chain stem
torian voice from the front room called out
"Gombo.n The musi, lost its Influence aud
there was n rush for the hall Men sought
their favorites this way aud that, anxious
maidcns kept their eyes on the floor hoping
for the coming of certain RallHnts. There
was some crowding around the entrance "a
the improvised refrcshment room from
which came the sayory odor Of rich gombo
aud strong coffee. Unlike the custom ~
balls within the jurisdiction Of more eere-
moniOus social code the galants passed their
fair ones alone by the doortecper into the
sunptuous feast and then adjourned 10 ths
front gallery TO smoke cigarette.
As the ladies completed their hurried re-
past and approached the door 70 make an
exit the doorkeepcr with lusty voice shouted
the name Of the demoiselles' escort, jean
Seryat, Alphonse Descalle Bebo Latour'
These knights soon put in appearance.
and paying the modest sum Of twenty five
cents for the gonbo their bellies had eaten,
secured their freedDm from the doorkeeper's
demands. With chiyalIic regards the men
await their repast until the fairer are all
served
Happy In the enjoyment Of the lovely
lance and gay conversation, the guests for
got the gallop Of the hours, an1 when the